Raleigh, N.C. — Former Robeson County Sheriff Glenn Maynor was sentenced Thursday to six years in federal prison as part of a six-year investigation into corruption in the county.

Maynor, 61, who served as sheriff from 1994 until 2004, pleaded guilty last September to lying to a grand jury and misusing federal funds. He was sentenced to one year in prison on the first charge and another five years on the second one, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

The six-year-long federal and state investigation into the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, dubbed Operation Tarnished Badge, has led to charges against 22 law enforcement officers. More serious charges include kidnapping, money laundering and burning houses during drug raids.

"We started with the lowest of the low. Basically, the investigation started with drug dealers who were telling us they had been robbed or abused in some manner by law enforcement. From those witnesses, we worked all the way up to the sheriff," U.S. Attorney George Holding said.

"The corruption in the sheriff's department has been a horrid chapter in the history of Robeson County," Holding said, noting the case remains under investigation.

The sentencing marked a long fall from grace from the new sheriff who stressed his the importance of honesty and always doing the right thing in a 1997 interview with WRAL News.

""Good always outweighs evil," he said in that 1997 interview. "The biggest mistake that we can make in life is to forget where we come from."

U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle angrily rejected a plea deal last month that would have sent Maynor to jail for 18 to 24 months, saying the punishment didn't fit the crime. Maynor set a bad example for the deputies under his command, the judge said.

Defense attorneys argued Thursday for a shorter sentence, saying Maynor suffers from health problems and already has suffered by losing his office and his reputation.

Prosecutors, who earlier said a lighter sentence was justified, said Thursday that Maynor not only failed to root out the corruption in his office but also took part in it.

"I realize that I dropped the ball," a shaken Maynor said in court as he choked back tears.

He blamed his lack of oversight on trying to attend to family health problems at the time.

"He let the people of Robeson County down by doing such a terrible job as sheriff," defense attorney Doug Parsons said.

Boyle questioned why the state hadn't cracked down sooner on corruption in Robeson County. State Bureau of Investigation Director Robin Pendergraft said after the sentencing that authorities have been working the case for six years.

"It took a long time to get a crack and to get into what was going on," Pendergraft said, calling Maynor's sentence symbolic.

"The head of an agency, particularly a law enforcement agency, is deemed responsible for the management of the organization," she said.

Holding said his office agreed to the original plea deal because the 18- to 24-month prison sentence fell within federal sentencing guidelines. He said prosecutors agreed with Boyle decision to depart from the guidelines and impose a stiffer sentence.

Prosecutors said the residents of Robeson County were the real winners after Maynor's guilty plea and sentence.

"It gives them the opportunity to be free for the first time in a very long time from the political corruption that has been, as Mr. Holding said, haunting that county. I think that that is the important part," Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Bradsher said.

Boyle also ordered Maynor to pay $17,550 in restitution for the misused money and to spend three years on supervised release after he gets out of prison.

Maynor is scheduled to report to prison on Aug. 1. There was no word on where he would serve his sentence.

As he left the federal courthouse in downtown Raleigh, Maynor's words echoed those he said in the 1997 WRAL News interview: "I get emotional when I talk a lot of time, because I am a Christian," he said in that interview.

On Thursday, it appeared Maynor would turn to that faith in his latest struggle: "I'll continue to trust in the Lord," he said.

COPs eyeJun 20, 2008

If you are wrong you are wrong. He broke the law and abused his positiion of power plain and simple. It does not matter what his reason or excuse was for doing so. He and the other dishonest officers make all of us look bad. There is already enough issues that we battle everyday an for a someone to take advantage like he did makes it 1000 times worse. 6 years is not enough. For all the honest cops in Roberson county, good luck for all the dishonest ones...your day is coming.

beckalynn78Jun 19, 2008

from http://www.dishnewsonline.tv/index.php?action=news

"Stallings was charged with making false statements to a federal agent on April 17, 2007, when, according to court records, he told investigators he only reprogrammed the cards for C.T. Strickland, Gary Odum and Rory N. McKeithan. Prosecutors say Stallings reprogrammed the cards for other sheriff’s deputies other than those he mentioned.

McKeithan has not been charged with any crimes. He continues to work as a detective and arson investigator at the Sheriff’s Office"

Anybody else question this???

beckalynn78Jun 19, 2008

A few things...Mr. Maynor was once what I thought to be a close friend to my family. Now we know he is every reason for our recent turmoil. I for one would have liked to see him get 10 years.

A few things I would like to add my 2 cent too!

Not all cops are bad. Most are very good, hardworking and underpaid. Generalizing what a few cops did to the millions that work hard every day at making our world safe is not only dumb but flat out wrong.

Mr. Maynor quoting scripture should not be made fun of. That could be a great source of strength for him and his family. No matter what he has done, he still has the Lord's love.

and to the precious poster...I agree. I know who you are talking about and its flat out wrong. If one did it and went down, so should he. He was investigated but no arrest? He must have sang like a bird!

attackcat357Jun 19, 2008

If Everyone in Robeson County that had a satellite card were charged- where would they put them all? The 1st ones that should be charged are the LEO that are still employed.

bluewindJun 19, 2008

Who is going to protect our children??? Sotries like this STEAM me!! He violated the trust of every law abiding citizen in this country. He should get the book thrown at him. Oh, by the way, I have a health problem...let me steal something!!! At least come up with a better excuse than that!!

VT1994HokieJun 19, 2008

These guys were watching too many TV programs and how to get away with a crime. RC has been in the headlines for years with problems in the Gov't, schools, and now the Sheriff's Dept. Who can you trust with your vote and tax paying dollars?

mtrJun 19, 2008

steinbeck18:"drug dealers who were telling us they had been robbed or abused in some manner by law enforcement............so I have no problem with this one."

You think they are drug dealers, because the cops tell you they were. Perhaps the cops are the liars, thieves, and crooks more often then the drug dealers. Doesn't it make you wonder about how often they do a drug raid with military styled SWAT teams and only find a joint or two? It could be that they (cops) have a hard time carrying around a couple pounds to plant, so they only get to drop a few joints. If they did try to carry more the dogs would become useless from the constant detection.

So many cops are dishonest, and this was proof.Good cops would have spoken up, this shows how many there are of them.

ConcernedNCCJun 19, 2008

He sounds like he was "trusting the Lord" to keep him out of the pen. He got exactly what he deserves, especially if he gets a "friend" on the inside.

twcJun 19, 2008

hpr641, they need to have these stories edited by the censors who monitor these posts. Unless, of course, they're one and the same.

twcJun 19, 2008

dplowman, you're exactly right. The ordinary citizen wouldn't even get to say bye to his family until the next scheduled visitation.